8v not liking the taste of coolant! Radweld/nova stop advice.

[rupertfinch]

Right then chaps. The 8V has always been a stout trooper, but of late she appears to be losing coolant. So much so that I had the dreaded temperature light flash at me on the way home yesterday (thankfully about 1.5 miles from home) and the needle hover around 110 degrees.

What's odd is that the car had been to my mechanics at the start of the week for a new clutch and he gave it a quick going over and couldn't spot any leaks (he's not the kind of bloke who would fobb me off either). So I'm thinking the radiator may be feeling a little tired as there's no evidence it's spitting it out the expansion tank.

So then, I'd appreciate advice on using radweld type stuff. Actually the one I have is called Nova Stop (if only it did what it says on the tin, although corsa stop sounds even better). I don't think I've much water left in the system, so am I best to add novastop to the expansion tank, top it up with water and let it run for a bit? Or should I attempt to add it directly to the radiator?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Guy]

Don't use radweld as it will knacker your heat exchange.. Instead use Wynn's stop leak.. It is much better.

[kells]

gonna have to disagree slightyl for once guy matey  , radweld never caused me any Jip, used it in my golf right up until recently when i re did all my coolant, put new coolant bottle on etc and new G12 plus coolant
the radweld stopped a leak i used to have, it really did work

you add it through the coolant expansion  bottle, not the rad

[Guy]

gonna have to disagree slightyl for once guy matey  , radweld never caused me any Jip, used it in my golf right up until recently when i re did all my coolant, put new coolant bottle on etc and new G12 plus coolant
the radweld stopped a leak i used to have, it really did work

you add it through the coolant expansion  bottle, not the rad

used radweld in my calibra and it cost me a thermostat and a heater matrix... can only offer the advice that I have from personal experience

my mechanic showed it to me and said... 'you been using radweld??' and i said... 'uh huuh' like a dumass... he than said 'in future just use wynns stop leak, does a better job and won't clog up your system'

[kells]

killed it with the word vauxhall

on a serious note, fine, iv never had a problem with it but i will bear that in mind if i need it again, and i trust the wynnes brand too

[Guy]

killed it with the word vauxhall

on a serious note, fine, iv never had a problem with it but i will bear that in mind if i need it again, and i trust the wynnes brand too

yeah.. sorry about using that swear word  :embarassed:

[beccasmk3gti]

as said above redweld does bugger ur heater matrix sits and collects in there slowing down the heat exchange u will notice it in winter when ur sat there cold freezing cause the heating is working properly done it my self so know from past experiance.

[rupertfinch]

Just as well I didn't use rad weld then! I did actually previously add wynns stop leak to the car, but that was added to the oil as I was having drama with the 'little ceramic oil thingy' the name of which I can't remember. Did bugger all to cure that, but a replacement 'thingy' cured the problem.

I used 'Nova stop' on the coolant system. For a good few minutes it looked as though it was a waste as steam started coming from the rad, the expansion tank bubbled over and the needle headed for 110! So being a mature adult, I went indoors, flicked through Haynes and the swore a bit! After it had cooled down, I returned to the engine and squeezed the pipes even more vigorously. Not much appeared to be happening, so in a fit of rage I took it out for it's final death thrash! 150m down the road and the heaters start blowing hot air like a furnace. The needle headed steadily south and the old girl took off like the clappers.

I've subsequently given it a good few runs (heater on and off) and she's back to normal and more importantly there's no coolant on the drive! I reckon I should give her a good flushing out pretty soon before restoring all coolant to proper levels.

On that note - what is the ratio of coolant to water?

Many thanks for your help and advice gentlemen! Mark.

[MrBounce]

Coolant ratio if using the pink coolant is 1:3